Revitalized Schechner rolls in S.I. Men's B Tournament

Bobby Schechner has been around the block a time or two. And just not the tennis block either.

A standout singles player in the late ‘70s and a Staten Island Men’s Doubles champion to boot, health issues slowed Schechner down in recent years but did not knock him out.

The past two years he has rebounded and once again he’s making noise — a 6-0, 6-0 opening win over Mike Abbott yesterday — in the S.I. Men’s B Tournament at the S.I. Community Tennis Center in Willowbrook.

“I doing well in doubles and I hope to play in the U.S. Grasscourt (55 and over) championships at the West Side Tennis Club (Queens) later this summer,” said the Holmdel, N.J. resident who still shows on occasions the deft volley and well-placed backhand.

“I try to get out and play as much as possible. It’s fun and it keeps me alive.”

The unseeded Schechner will play another contemporary — No. 7 Gregg Hansson — in tomorrow’s quarterfinals, the winner get a berth in Friday’s Open round of 16.